carpenter



H. A. CARPENTER.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AMMONIUM SULFATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIB. T918.

1 ,3Q2,758o v Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES INVENTOR H. A. CARPENTER.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AMMONIUM SULFATE.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY I8, 1918.

1,322,758., lmmm-a NM. 2.5, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTQR H. A. CARPENTER.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AMMONIUM SULFATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 918.

- Patented Nov. 25, 1912).

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- w n ?A? V 5; am? 51 A 3 3% INVENTOR Ir I an srarnsraranr @FFTQE.

HENRY A. CARPENTER, F SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BITER-CONLEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF LEETSDALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AMMONIUM SULFATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

Original application filed February 15, 1916, Serial No. 78,444. Divided and this application flled J'uly 18,

1918. Serial No. 245,508.

To all whom it may concern.-

Another object is to insure thorough and Be it 'known that I, HENRY A CARPEN complete dissemination of the acid content TER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sewickley, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Producing Ammonium Sulfate, of which the following is a specification.v

The invention relates to the production of sulfate of ammonium by subjecting coal gas to an acid saturation bath, the desired reaction resulting from contact of the am- "monia laden gas with the sulfuric acid content of the bath. I The present application is a division 0 an application filed by me February 15, 1916, Serial No. 78,4.44. u

One object is to provide a controlled or predetermined uniform temperature condition within the saturater, and particularly at the gas outlet thereof, whereby the reaction is caused to proceed under conditions most favorable for the production of highgrade sulfate, and whereby the temperature of the inlet gas may be so regulated as to insure vaporization of water from the bath in desired amount.

A further object is to utilize conditions inherent in the saturation bath for automatically controlling replenishment of the water and acid contents thereof, avoiding either over or under supply and maintaining a saturation bath of uniform volume and acidity. The level of the bath is preferably utilized through the medium of a float for regulating the water additions, and the acid replenishment is determined by the specific gravity of the bath by means of a hydrometer.

Another object is to produce an acid-free sulfate, and this I accomplishby thoroughly washing the salt, waste being prevented by discharging the acid-carrying water into the saturater, and as the water which replenishes the bath maybe used for this purpose, the desired conditions incident to the bath and its maintenance are in no way disturbed. The washing is made very effective by causing the water to flow counter to and in contact with the sulfate as the latter is withdrawn from the saturater, whereby the sulfate is discharged free of acid.

between them. The reaction takes throughout the saturation bath, the latter gas. To circumvent this unfavorable condition I maintain the bath in two bodies, with means for maintaining constant circulation place in one of the bodies and the acid replenishment is accomplished in the other body, and by this means a thorough and uniform mixture is had, particularly in that portion of the bath where the reaction takes place.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings apparatus for practising the invention is illustrated, the showing in both views being largely diagrammatic, Fig. 1 illustrating the same primarily in side elevation with the various electric connections omitted, while in Fig. 2 the electrical .circuits and connections are shown, together with a vertical section of the auxiliary saturater bathchamber.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the mechanisms actuated by the float and hydrometer for effecting the opening and closing of the circuits controlled thereby.

, Fig. 4: is a'view in vertical section of the main saturater chamber together Wiith a form of conveyer for removing the sulfate therefrom, and Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of a portion of the chamber, taken on line 5-5-of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section of part of the structure mounted on the saturation chamber for supporting and operating the conveyer, the parts being illustrated at right angles to that shown in Fig. 4.

- in Fig. 4.

wall 8 of'cham'ber 2. Space 6 is in open communication beneath thelevel of the bath with the interior of the saturation chamber. From the chamber-encircling space 6 the gas is conducted into the hollow radially arranged distributin bafiles 9, located ben'eath the level of t e bath and each provided with a multiplicity of ports 10 for insuring effective distribution throughout all ortions of the gas-entering zone of the Bath. The pressure of gas is sufiicient to depress the liquid level in space 6, so that the gas may freel enter distrlbuters 9, as shown pon emerging from the bath the gas ascends into dome 5 from which it passes throu l1 discharge pipe 11.

It is desira Is to regulate the temperature of the as Within the saturation chamber. One ob ect of such regulation is to maintain the gas at an eflicient absorbing temperature, whereby the water content of the bath will be depleted in such amount that the water required to replenish the same will be suflicient to thoroughly wash the sulfate as itis withdrawn from the saturater, producin an acid-free salt; Another object of sue regulation is to maintain the temperature as low as. is consistent with an efficient reaction, a better grade of sulfate being thus produced than when the tempera ture is excessive. A function of the saturater is availed of for accomplishing this automatic regulation, and in the preferred practice the temperature of the gas dischargmg from the saturater is thus utilized.

In the embodiment of the temperature regulation here shown, 15 designates a gas heater. of usual construction through which a circulation of heated waste gases may be maintained by blower 16. The gas to be heated enters from a main 17 and discharges through pipe 18 into the saturater inlet 3. Extending around the heater from main 17 to inlet 3 is bypass 19', and controlling the flow to the heater and to the bypass is a damper 20 which is adapted to be actuated by an electric motor 21, which is by preference connected to a three-phase circuit 22 by a reversing switch 23 of familiar construction, and this switch is adaptedto be actuated by a thermostat 24 of suitable type having its terminal 25 entered in the saturater gas outlet 11. By this means both heated and relatively cool gas is passed to the saturater, the proportion of each being determined by damper 20 which, in turn, is controlled automatically by the temperature at the saturater outlet, the reversing switch operating to actuate the motor in direction to admit more or less heated or cooled gas, or to remain inactive when the switch is in neutral position, all as determined by the movement emanating from thermostat 24.

The invention embodies automatic regulation for controlling the replenishment of the water and acid contents of the saturation bath, but before describing these features reference will be made to the dis 0- sition of the bath in two separate bodies etween which constant circulation of [the liquid is maintained.

Upon referring to the drawings, it will be seen that in addition to saturater 2 a supplemental chamber '30 is provided which 1s connected to chamber 2 by pipes 31 and 32.. Pipe 31 leads from pipe 33 encircling chamber 2 and in communication with the latter at several points as indicated at 34. Connections 34 communicate with the upper or gas entering zone of thefbath at 35, and as pipe 32 discharges into this zone, circulation is had between chamber 30 and that portion of the bath that is required to be of maximum acidity, i. 6., the portion with whichthe gas is in contact after discharging from bafiles 9. Also, with the circulation outlet leading from the upper portion of the saturation bath there is practically no withdrawal of sulfate into chamber 30. Circulation is maintained by means of a pump 36 driven by motor 37 and to which pipe 32 is connected, and by this means the contents of chambers, 2 and 30 are constantly mixing and interchanging.

The advantage of the foregoing arran ement results from the fact that the re atively small amount of acid of high concentration is supplied to chamber 30 and is thoroughly mixed with the saturation bath in said chamber and before reaching chamber 2, whereas, if the acid were introduced directly into chamber 2 there would be no opportunity for obtaining a thorough mixing and to that extent the operation of the saturater would lack uniformity and its efiiciency would be correspondingly lessened.

Functions of the saturation bath are utilized for automatically controlling the inflow of water and acid, whereby the volume and acidity of the bath are, maintained substantially constant. The water supply may be obtained from a main 40 which is adapted to discharge into the conveyen tube 41 (presently to be described) extending downwardly into saturater 2 and open to the lower portion of the latter. A valve 42 in pipe 40 is actuated by electric motor 43 which is connected in the three-phase cirbetween its ends at 47 to the wall of cham- Y ber 30 and with its opposite ends pivotally connected, respectively, to the float and switch. By this means the flow of water through main 40 may be accurately conmamas trolled, motor 43 being controlled by the switch to either decrease or increase the flow or to maintain a predetermined con stant flow, determined by the liquid level of chamber 30.

The supply of acid may be drawn from a. suitable elevated container 50, a valve 51 controlling the flow therefrom into chamber 30. A reversible electric motor 52 for actuating this valve is connected in circuit 22, the direction of the motor be ng controlled by a, solenoid reverslng switch conventionally shown at 53. This switch is under the control of hydrometer 54 located in chamber 30, the hydrom'eter stem 55 being movable through a vertical guide 56 carried by the float and at its upper end plvotally connected to one end of lever57. This lever is mounted between its ends on fulcrum 47 being thus fulcrumed coincidentally with lever 46. An interruption 58 in the branch of the circuit extending to one side of switch 53 is movably supported at 5-9 by lever 46, and said interruption is adapted to be closed by the bridging contact 60 carried by one leg of lever 57 when the hydrometer has risen suficiently to efiect such operation. A like interruption 61 in the branch of the circuit extending to the other portion of switch 53 is movably carried by the opposite leg of lever 46, and is adapted to be closed by the bridging contact 62 movably carried by the portion .of lever 57 that is distant from contact 60. As variations in the liquid level have substantially the same position-changing efiect on the float and hydrometer, levers 46 and 57 have substantially the same movement on their common fulcrum 47 in response to such variations. This results'in maintaining the circuit interruptions 58- and 61 in substantially the same relation to contacts 60 and 62 irrespective of liquid level changes, and hence said parts are in proper relation for controlling the direction of motor 52 by movement of the hydrometer relatively to the float, determined by the specific gravity of the bath.

The quality of ammonia sulfate is frequently seriously impaired by the presence of sulfuric acid which is of a viscous nature and adheres to the salt in such manner that and lower sprocket wheels 67 and 68, respectively, journaled in the vertical parallel thus still further agitating the same.

iii 1 i arms 69 of a supporting frame. The upper end of this frame comprises a spindle 7 0 that is rota-table in bearings 71 of frame 72, the latter mounted on saturater 2, a motor 73 being geared to the spindle at 74 whereby the endless conveyer and its support are rotated about a vertical axis wit out interfering with the movement of the conveyer around the sprocket wheels.

For driving the conveyer chain, shaft 75 carrying the upper sprocket 67 has secured thereto pinions 76 which meshwith the circular downwardly facing rack 77 within frame 72, so that the movement of the conveyer support aboutits vertical axis'operates to drive the uppersprocket, thereby keeping the conveyer in motion. Buckets 66 are thus caused to fill with sulfate at the lower endof tube 41 and discharge at the upper end of said tube.

The movement of the conveyer about a vertical axis combined with the vertical travel of the buckets results in so agitating sulfate at the lower end of tube 4'1 as to maintain an ample supply within reach of the buckets at all times. Plow-like arms 7 9 projecting laterally from the lower extremity of frame 69, Figs. 4 and 5, sweep through the sulfate as the frame is rotated, At the upper end of the conveyer the inflowing fresh water is discharged from pipe 40 through the ring or manifold 48' so that the sulfate is thoroughly washed while being elevated through tube 41 and is freed of the acid adhering thereto, the water draining therefrom-through the ascending perforated buckets.

It is characteristic of the cleansing operation that the sulfate and water move or flow in opposite directions through a common path of substantial length with the scrubbing action proceeding from end to end thereof. The sulfate encounters progressively clearer or fresher water as it moves toward the discharge end of the conveyer, whereby a most efi'ective washing and rinsing action is had. While this contra-current washing is preferably practised with the water which replenishes the bath, and while in such practice the temperature regulation of the saturater is such as to. require an amount of inflowing water sufficient to thoroughly cleanse the sulfate, the invention is not restricted thereto.

What I claim is I -1. In the production of sulfate of ammonia, the method herein described, consisting in introducing coal gas into an acid saturation bath, and utilizing the heat of the gas which has been exposed to the bath for controlling the temperature of the admitted gas.

2. In the production of sulfate of ammonia, the method herein described, con,-

lltl

sisting in introducing coal as into an acid saturation bath, and utilizing the heat of the gas discharging from the bath for regulating the temperature at which the gas enters the bath.

3. In the production of sulfate of ammo-- nia, the method herein described, conslsting in admitting coal gas to an acid saturation bath, and maintaining uniform the temperature of the gas dischargin from the bath.

4:. In the production 0 sulfate of ammonia, the method herein described, consisting in admitting coa'l gas to an acid saturation bath, maintaining the gas discharging from the bath at uniform temperature, and regulating the temperature of the gas admitted to the bath to maintain such uniformity in the discharging gas temperature.

5. In the production of sulfate of ammonia, the -method herein described, consisting in heating coal gas and introducing the heated gas into an acid saturation bath, and regulating such heating of the gas to maintain the gas discharging from the bath at a predetermined temperature.

6. In the production of sulfate of am.- monia, the method herein described, con- 1 sisting in heating coal gas and delivering perature-of the bath-entering gas to main tain the temperature of such discharging gas substantially constant.

8. In the production of sulfate of ammonia, the method herein described, consisting in supplying coal gas to an acid saturation bath in condition to cause it to absorb water from the bath, maintaining 'the gas discharging from the bath at constant temperature and utilizing the heat of such discharging gas for regulating the temperature of the gas entering the bath.

9. In the production of sulfate of ammonia, the method herein described, consisting in introducing coal gas into an acid saturation bath in condition to cause it to absorb water from the bath, and automatically replenishing'the water content of the bath as the absorption proceeds and in amount corresponding thereto.

10. In the product1on of sulfate of ammonia, 'the method herein described, corn sisting in introducing coal gas into an acld heat of the gas which has been saturation bath in condition to cause it to absorb water from the bath, replenishing the water content of the bath as the absorption proceeds, and utilizing the level of the bath for regulating such replenishment,

11. In the production of sulfate of ammonia, the method herein described, consisting in introducin coal gas into an acid saturation bath, rep enishing the depleted pass extendin around the heater, the heater and bypass a apted to receive coal gas from the same source and both adapted to discharge into the saturater, a valve for proportioning the flow of gas through the heater, an bypass, a motor for actuating the valve, and a thermostat exposed to the gas discharging from the saturater and operatively connected to the motor for controlling the operation thereof.

- 14. In apparatus for producing sulfate of ammonia, a saturater adapted to receive coal gas, a water supply for replenishing the water content of the saturation bath, and means controlled by the saturation bath for automatically regulating the amount of water supplied thereto.

15. In apparatus for producing sulfate of ammonia, a saturater adapted to receive coal gas, a water supply for replenishing the water content of the saturation bath, a. valve for controlling the flow of water, an electric motor for actuating said valve, a reversin switch for the motor, and a float actuate by said bath and operatively connected to said switch.

16. In apparatus for producing sulfate of ammonia, a saturater adapted to receive coal gas, a Water supply for replenishing the water content of the saturation bath, a float actuated by said bath, and means actuated by the float for controlling the amount of water supplied to the bath.

17. In apparatus for producing sulfate of ammonia, a saturater adapted to receive coal gas, an acid supply for replenishing the acid content of the saturation bath, and means controlled by the saturation bath for automatically regulating the amount of acid supplied thereto.

18. In apparatus for producing sulfate of ammonia, a saturater adapted to receive coal mamas gas, an acid supply for replenishing theacid content of the saturation bath, and a hydrometer exposed to the bath .and operatively connected to the acid source for automatically controlling the amount of acid supplied to the bath.

19. In apparatus for producing sulfate of ammonia, a saturater adapted to receive coal gas, a-source of acid supply for replenishing the acid content of the saturation bath, a valve for controllin the flow of acid, a motor for actuating t e valve, and a hydrometer exposed to the bath and 0peratively connected to the motor for controlling the movement thereof.

20. In apparatus for producing sulfate of ammonia, a saturater adapted to receive coal gas, a water supply for replenlshing the.

water content of the saturation bath, a float exposed to the bath and operatively connected to the water supply for controlling.

the flow therefrom, an acid supply for replenishing the acid content of the bath, a

hydrometer exposed to the bath, and means float, a motor for controlling the water supply with an operative connection between the motor and the opposite end of said lever, an acid supply for replenishing the acid content of the bath, a reversible motor for controlling the acid supply, two circuits operatively connected to the motor for determinin the direction thereof with interruptions 1n said circuits'located on the floatconnected lever at opposite sides of the lever fulcrum, a hydrometer exposed to the bath, a lever fulcrumed coincidentally with the float-connected lever and operatively connected to the hydrometer, and bridging contacts carried by the hydrometer-connected lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum and adapted, respectively, to cooperate with the circuit interruptions located on the floatconnected lever.

22. In apparatus for producing sulfate of ammonia, a saturater adapted to receive coal gas, a second bath-holding vessel with means maintaining the acid saturation bath constantly circulating. from one vessel to the other, and a source of acid incommunication with said second vessel for replenishin the acid content of the bath.

n testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY A. CARPENTER. Witnesses:

R. L. HIBBARD, ADA M. STEELE. 

